I have seen (last week) plans for a reno in St Vital Mall and on those plans it showed some of the other stores in the mall. On those plans where the former Sony Store location was, is listed as Bath & Body Works. So for all the women in your lives who have been waiting, their wait "might" be over soon.

hmm i have lots of memories of going downtown to coten geny with my mother and then hitting up the bay and eatons and having an icescream at name fails me at the place on the 2nd floor in portage place

I have seen (last week) plans for a reno in St Vital Mall and on those plans it showed some of the other stores in the mall. On those plans where the former Sony Store location was, is listed as Bath & Body Works. So for all the women in your lives who have been waiting, their wait "might" be over soon.

My wife saw the B&BW people walking around St.Vital with clipboards on the weekend. Needless to say, she was excited.

Well folks, let's hope this works...although I am somewhat dissapointed between all of the agencies trying to transform downtown, they had to spend money on a consultant; all you have to do is look at Yonge Street in Toronto to know this is what works: a mixture of various retailers and restauarnts, etc...oh well!

Friday, January 8

MEDIA RELEASE
Downtown Winnipeg Biz

DOWNTOWN PARTNERS TAKE FIRST STEPS IN BRINGING NEW RETAILERS AND VIBRANCY TO CITY'S CORE

WINNIPEG, MB–– Mountain Equipment Co-op, Moi Boutique, Rink Side and Samurai Japanese restaurants, Cake Clothing and Candie and Dolls--these are the types of unique stores that are vital to downtown shopping. Now combine those with retailers and restaurants we've all seen as we travel across Canada like Forever 21, Jack Astor's Grill and Purr Clothing, and downtown becomes the place to shop in Winnipeg. The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, along with CentreVenture Development Corporation, the City of Winnipeg, The Forks North Portage Development Corporation and the Exchange District BIZ, has developed a plan to support existing retailers and attract new ones with the Downtown Retail Retention and Recruitment Strategy.

"This strategy is part of the foundation to restoring the glory of Portage Avenue and downtown," says Ross McGowan, president and CEO of CentreVenture. "Attracting the appropriate retail mix to downtown will signal a change in attitude and business focus."

Three years ago, New York-based MJB Consulting--a leader in North American downtown development strategies--did an extensive analysis of Winnipeg’s retail market. The resulting report, released in 2009, outlined a comprehensive plan for three targeted downtown areas--the Exchange District, Portage Avenue and Graham Avenue. The report provides suggestions of both specific examples and the types of retailers that might be open to recruitment to downtown Winnipeg.

"With this strategy, we can attract retailers to downtown and outline the specific advantages to them," says Steven Young of Avison Young. "It is an essential marketing tool offering ideas on incentives and positioning strategies for key downtown districts."

The Exchange District was identified through its "cool factor", "casual-chic" atmosphere and the need to balance its hipster (creative pioneers of the revived Exchange) demographic with an emerging yupster (a yuppie hipster hybrid) population.

Portage Avenue offers a combination of opportunities for larger retail brands exclusive to downtown and "cheap-chic" fashion stores specializing in trends. Combined with Portage's entertainment venues such as dining, concerts, sports, events and hotels, it has the potential to become a complete destination for visitors and residents.

Portage Place is very excited in the direction that this retail strategy is going to take downtown," says Dave Stone, general manager of Portage Place. "It provides us all with a clear vision and a solid strategy to bring the downtown core back to prominence."

And finally, Graham Avenue is characterized for its ability to showcase Winnipeg's multi-culturism through immigrant- and minority-oriented businesses that highlight the city's diversity.

The BIZes and CentreVenture will work together in advocating for the implementation phase as outlined in the report that includes hiring a recruiter/coordinator, coordinating meetings with landlords/brokers, development of an available spaces database and advocating for the right tools to address structural challenges retailers face in operating downtown when compared to other parts of the city.

"This plan is a vital tool to creating the continuous positive change we all want to see for our downtown," says Stefano Grande, Downtown BIZ executive director. "We want to retain the great retailers we already have and attract the types of businesses that will make downtown Winnipeg thrive.

Apparently the Bomber Store just had a short term lease, so when St. Vital got the opportunity for Bath & Body Works to move in with a long term lease they went with that.

From the manager of the Bomber Store:

Quote:

The Winnipeg Football Club has closed their current St. Vital Centre location as another retailer has signed a long term lease on this location. The Winnipeg Football Club is in ongoing negotiations with St. Vital Centre to find a stable long term location for the Bomber Store.

The Bomber Store and its staff would like to thank all its customers. They can visit the Bomber Store @ Canad Inns Stadium when it re-opens on Saturday, January 16th.

The Polo Park area would benefit (greatly) from a package of improvements that focuses on adding left turn lanes where possible, especially on empress Street where it should be possible to widen the road (with retaining walls) and squeeze in the left turn lanes.

I would also suggest that the owners of the Polo Park Mall should look into reconfiguring their parking lot, mainly the roads and intersections on the property, so that intersections, roadways are easy to navigate. I realize this would cost some money, but it would sure improve safety on busy shopping days. Coquitlam Centre Shopping Mall in BC did this a few years back, and it improved things greatly (except maybe for boxing day!).

Agreed. I sure hope the forces that be make it a reality. If only the old CTV spaces wasn't supposed to be an 'outdoor concept', and rather an indoor expansion of the retail hub, Polo Park could REALLY be rolling.